Richards Selected in First Round

June 9, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. -- Junior Garrett Richards became the third first round draft pick in the last six years from the University of Oklahoma on Tuesday. Richards was drafted on day one of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with the 42nd overall pick (Supplemental First Round).

Richards is the 17th Sooner to be selected in the first round since 1967. The right-handed pitcher is the first Sooner taken in this year's draft and the third player selected from the Big 12 Conference. He joins former Sooners Jackson Williams (43rd overall in 2007) and David Purcey (16th overall in 2004) as the most recent OU first round selections.

"I feel really good about where I got drafted," said Richards. "It all comes back to my development here at the University of Oklahoma. Coach Golloway, the assistant coaches and the players were always on the same page of getting better every day as a team and that has helped me get to where I am today. OU is an awesome program and one of the best in the nation, in my opinion. I will continue to follow the Sooners and look forward to seeing them back in Omaha soon."

Richards recorded 11 victories, including nine in 2009, and saved nine games in his three years on the mound at Oklahoma. The hard-throwing hurler struck out 127 batters in 125 2/3 career innings.

In 2009, the Edmond, Okla., native led OU with nine wins and 85 strikeouts. In his 17 appearances, including 15 starts, Richards limited the opposition to a .268 batting average.

Bio | Statistics | Video on MLB.com | Sooners in the MLB Draft

He saved his best performance of 2009 for the postseason as he eliminated Washington State in the 2009 NCAA Norman Regional with his first complete-game victory. Richards struck out 10 batters across a career-high nine innings and held the Cougars to two runs off five hits and a walk. The performance launched OU into the regional final and earned Richards a spot on the Norman Regional All-Tournament team.

Richards' strong finish to the season featured five or more innings in six of his last seven starts and three wins down the stretch. Included in that span was a career-high 11 strikeouts in the regular season finale against then-No. 16 Texas A&M. In addition, he struck five or more batters in nine of his 15 starts, including 32 in his last four outings (Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Missouri and Washington State).

The Edmond, Okla., native began his collegiate career as the Sooners' closer and recorded nine saves, the fifth highest total in a single season at OU. His 28 appearances as a freshman ranked second on the club in 2007 and was followed by 18 outings in 2008, including one start.

Also selected on day one was Austin Kirk, who signed with the Sooners back in November as a part of the 2010 recruiting class. Kirk, picked 109th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the third round, is a product of Oklahoma and recently finished his prep career at Owasso High School where he starred as a left-handed pitcher and first baseman.

The 2009 MLB Draft continues with Wednesday's action, which includes rounds four through 30 beginning at 11 a.m. CT . The draft continues on Thursday with rounds 31-50 starting at 10:30 a.m.

Click here to follow the action live on MLB's DrafTracker.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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